The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-26

INVITES INVESTIGATION.
ENDORSED LETTER FROM ENGI.
AEER MERIWETHER.
Civil Engineers Approached to Meas.
ure Payements and Compare
Them With Vouchers.

Thote who want to feel that way and
will not hsrbor thought to the con-
trary, affect to believe that the Taxing
District officials Who have encountered
the displessure Of the powers that be
Commonly designated a "ring" or
"clique"-are trembling ever the re.
sult and crinsing before Its further
progress. "Ii they are innocent no
harm can come; If they are guilty
they should be handled by the law"
proclaim those whose conservatism ia
wonderful to behold, followed up by
remarks which leave no doubt that
the latter 'if" Is anxiously desired.
As q matter OF fact, the city govern
ment officials have oil along welcomed
the Investigation, and aided the grand
jury in every manner pceaible. Sew
eral days ago propositions were made
to nearly every civil engineer in the
city, looking 10 measurement Of
pavemente, curling, etc., for the pur-
pose OF comparison with the Taxir q
District Engineers vouchers. These
proposals were made, it is said, by
Gen. James II. Chslmers, who has
been retained by sutside parties
TO assist Attorney General Peters In
the prosecution OF the cases. Meeers.
Martin, OF Martin h Chamberlain; O.
q. Burke, j. II. Humphreys, Marshall
AMI Houston were all requested, 60 the
report goes, aud very straightlv. 1t is
further rumort d that Mr.. j. Nj. Klos-
ter, formerly assistant Taxing District
engineer, was beeought by Mr.. Cooney,
contractor, to perform the same
service, but, like ali the other gentle.
men, respectfully declined. Msj.
Meriwetner was informed OF this fear.
ful thirst for knowledge on the part OF
some gentlemen not practically or le-
ultimately connected with "my grand
jury" and at the request OF President
Hsdden sent the following note to the
foreman Of the jury:
MRxPHIs, July 6, 1857.
Mr.. j. NJ. 6oodbar, Foreman Grand Jury :
DEAR SRI am ready as any tine ysu
may name convenient TO yoursel. TO mako
the trip over the city 10 show you the work
done. | an specially DESTROYS and urgent
that yourself, Mr., Estes and Mr.. shea shall
go with me. l will have men 10 open up any
work and place that you may des 10 10 OK.
anime. IL will take but a day, OF less, aud
viii be q Satisfaction TO all interested. Yours
truly, NILES MERlWErHRR,
Il. ID. Engineer.
On the back OF the letter, now in
POSSESSION OF the grand jury, app ears
the following Endorsement:
GHsrs-I am more than anxious that you
All comply with Mai. Meriwethor's request.
We want TO show you all our work, its mea-
suremont, Its system, Its durability, its cost.
and every itsm and hber OF detail during the
entire life Of tho government.
DAVID p. MADDEN. President.
While the grand jury have signified
no doubt OF honest transactions in this
department Of the city government,
and 90 far manifested no disposition
to accept Maj. Merriwether's PROPOSE.
ton, as body, Mr.. John J. Shea, the
secretary, told the 0ity E,ginser that
he would probably 20 with him at
some future time and zee the measures
ment made himself. II seems the
original design was to have the work
done without the asistance OF Mai
Meriwether, and as TO who longsd for
the comparison, or how much they are
interested, the public can easily Judge.
But perhaps the grand jury may 30
concluds 10 dad out who retained as.
sistant counsel for the state, since AT.
toiney General Petegs knew nothing
about IL
As rhsrinformatlon for the grand
jury, Mai. Meriwether measured all
the curling in the city. He found
something over four miles, aud 25
= l0!h feet Ia excess oil that called for
by his vouchers. This he accounted
for on the ground that old cuTbing was
lying about ths city, and his workmen
may have picked up that small amount
from what did not belong TO the city.
The average entire cost OF all this
curbing was Is cents per foot, cheaper
than Il 10 done in any other city OF the
country. Ia Kansas City the cost 10
from 81 10 81 % per foot. Louisville's
city engineer reports that the etone
alone laid down on the streets coeta rs
cent?, and an additional 10 cents is
necessary to tet I, Ia place. The came
economy a. Ia here made apparent ex.
lists In the street paving aud improve
menis, II can readily be seen, there
fore, that the fullest investigation n
this, as In every other department Of
the city government, may we'll be In
yited.
The sfalrs OF the Taxing Dislrlo,
have been investigated by some o! the
finss. grand iuries ever chHen under
Judges Horrigan, Greer and Douglass.
Their reports we're full and plain, pub.
llshed 10 the world and widely read.
The sane technical Irregularities"
existed then a. now, and yet there
was no intimation that any Of them
should be indicted % folons and 20
published to ths world. The oAlcla's
have also published their reports rtgu.
lATly TO the Governor, which were
read by Legislators and people.
strange as II may seem, after the same
conditions had passed under tho eyes
Of judges from Horrigan 10 Douglass,
and from Governor Marks 10 VIM. b.
Bate, and from five grand juries down
10 that headed by All. g., luther, II
dawned upon the present Criminal
Court and q grand Jury revolutions ID
that something was rotten In Den'
mark"
The Taxing District officials make
no complaint Of the inv, stigation, a
nothing is done under cover, but they
and their friends do complain OF tho
methods by which II Ia gone through
with. This original grand jury foI
this term sent committee through
the city offices, and alter a complete
examination was finished they admit
ted TO numbers OF gentlemen thai
"never had they encountered more
periec. order and thorough tystem
than in the city oillcee." Two Of thai
grapd jury, Messre, j. NJ. Goodbal
and Il n. Estes, are no longer con
nerted with the inquisitorial body.